California Vineyard Wedding

Gorgeous. Lush. Romantic. Julie and Scott were married at the Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, California on September 25, 2010. They had the entire grounds for the whole day! I'll let Julie's recap and the picture-perfect and swoon-inducing images from Ashley Summer and Chris Boyd {husband and wife photographers} tell their love story. Enjoy!

on wedding style For our wedding day I really wanted it to feel romantic and intimate with wine country charm.  Getting married at Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, CA set the tone for the whole wedding.  The towering oaks and ivy covered stone buildings was the perfect back drop.  We didn't add many flowers. We kept it simple, adding lights to enhance the winery's beauty.

{click images to enlarge}

on colors "My colors were wine and ivy green.  The burgundy color on my bridesmaids and in my bridal bouquet really popped against the vineyards and the ivy."

highlights of the day Walking down the aisle with my dad was a highlight.  He was telling me how he felt when I was a little girl and then seeing me as a bride all grown up.  I didn't know it then, but everyone commented after the ceremony how the sun had become a back drop for us and lit up the veil as we walked down.  I later saw it in the pictures.

The reality of saying the traditional vows, the "I dos," really made it feel real and gave me goose bumps.

The speeches from my dad, best man and maid of honor were really special for both Scott and I.  We laughed, we cried and got to hear some funny thoughts from people we really care about.

Dancing! Scott and I danced away the last hour and a half of our reception.  Towards the end, Scott's friends lifted him on their shoulders and carried him around. The picture captured in perfectly.

Scott and I talking the whole hour long ride to the hotel about every detail of our perfect night.

Advice you’re glad you took Spend money on a good photographer.  That was one place we didn't cut corners and I'm so happy with our results.

I was told to not worry about anything else, anyone else on our wedding day. This was our day to really enjoy.  Sure there were little things that didn't go exactly as planned.  That happens, but I didn't let it bother me.  I focused on all the love and people surrounding us.  It really was the best day of my life.

Advice you wished you took Most of my friends met their grooms before the wedding to take the majority of their pictures.  That gave them more time with friends and family at the reception.  I wish we didn't wait to see each other at the alter.  It would have calmed some nerves and gave us more time to take pictures with our wedding party, family and visit with our guests.

Advice you’d like to give Enjoy the whole bridal process.  It goes by so fast.  Make fun events out of the little things.  My mom and I shopped the flower market together, friends helped me cut corks for place cards and went with me to try on dresses.  One of my bridesmaids gave me a journal to write down bridal and newlywed moments. It's such a special time you will want to remember.

It's easy to cut corners.  Everything with the word wedding in it is sooo expensive. Shop around, borrow from friends, enter contests (like the MagnetStreet anniversary giveaway I won!) and enlist the help of people you know.

Best part of the whole wedding day The best part of our wedding was being surrounded by all the people we love to celebrate our love for each other.  You really feel the love all around you and know that you may never again see all your favorite people, friends, family, etc all in one place at the same time ever again.

Check out Julie and Scott's engagement photos and how they created anticipation for their winery theme with their Save the Dates {Tender Tendril. For their invitations, they chose the classic and romantic design of Antique Filigree Pocket Invitation {along with Enclosure and RSVP Cards, invitation Vellum overlay, Envelope Liner, Vellum Band and personalized Seal}. See the entire wedding invitation suite here.

antique filigree wedding invitation design

Thank you Julie for sharing your photos and so many intimate details from your wedding day~lovely indeed. Congratulations to you and Scott. We wish you both a lifetime of love, joy and happiness.